Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao, a stone crusher company partner, filed a complaint leading to an investigation. He accused Rajini, Gopi, Ramakrishna, and Joshua of extortion, with Rajini receiving ₹2 crore
Published Mar 24, 2025 | 3:54 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 24, 2025 | 3:54 PM
ACB filed case of extortion against former YSRCP Minister Vidadala Rajini and three others (@YSRCParty on X)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed charges against former YSRCP minister Vidadala Rajini and three others for extorting ₹2.2 crore from Sri Lakshmi Balaji Stone Crushers. Rajini, her brother-in-law, and two associates are accused of pressuring the company’s managing partner into paying, with Rajini receiving ₹2 crore. The case stems from a 2020 complaint and investigation
The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against former YSRCP minister Vidadala Rajini and three others, accusing them of extortion.
The charges, filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and BNSS, name Rajini as the primary accused (A1), alongside retired IPS officer and former Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer (RVEO) Palle Joshua (A2), Rajini’s brother-in-law Vidadala Gopi (A3), and her personal assistant D Ramakrishna (A4). The group allegedly extorted ₹2.2 crore from Sri Lakshmi Balaji Stone Crushers, located in Yadlapadu, in Palnadu district.
The case stems from a complaint by Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao, the managing partner of the stone crusher company, which prompted an investigation by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department. Rao claimed that Rajini, Gopi, Ramakrishna, and Joshua pressured him into paying the sum, with Rajini personally receiving ₹2 crore, and Gopi and Joshua each pocketing ₹10 lakh.
According to sources, the scheme began on 4 September 2020, when Ramakrishna allegedly told the stone crusher management to meet Rajini— then a minister— to avoid raids. During the meeting, Rajini reportedly demanded payment, warning of repercussions if they refused, and instructed them to coordinate with Ramakrishna, who initially sought ₹5 crore.
Shortly after, Joshua, allegedly acting on Rajini’s orders, raided the stone crusher facility without a formal complaint or approval from his superiors. He demanded a ₹50 crore fine for supposed violations, threatening to shut down the operation if the company didn’t comply. Notably, Joshua failed to report the raid to his head office. About a month later, he summoned the company’s management again, repeating the ₹50 crore demand and the threat of closure unless they met Rajini.
Fearing the consequences, the company owners — Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao and Namburi Srinivasa Rao — met Rajini, who referred them back to Ramakrishna. He asked them to pay up ₹5 crore. On 4 April, 2021, they settled the issue by paying ₹2 crore to Gopi and ₹10 lakh each to Joshua and Ramakrishna, as directed by Rajini. She allegedly cautioned them against revealing the payments, threatening legal action over supposed business violations, if they spoke out.
The Vigilance and Enforcement Department’s report said that Rajini abused her authority to orchestrate the extortion, recommending legal action against her and Joshua.
Rajini, however, has denied the allegations, calling them a politically motivated attack by the current NDA coalition government. She specifically pointed to TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, accusing him of orchestrating the case due to a personal grudge. In a statement to the media, Rajini denied any involvement in the extortion or contact with the complainant, dismissing the charges as fabricated. She further claimed that the Vigilance and Enforcement investigation, which prompted the ACB case, was biased.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
